Employees put their Wate(s) behind community day

From community support on a global scale to making a difference on a local one. Wates has established an annual community day, when staff from across the UK give their time to help local causes.

Its third annual community day was held in September, when 67 projects benefited from over 8,000 hours of volunteers’ time. These included hostels, day centres and community buildings.

The construction industry has a wealth of skilled and experienced employees that can make a massive difference to the internal and external environments of a community in a very short space of time. Cleaner, brighter and well-maintained surroundings promote pride in local communities, which in turn reduces social problems such as vandalism.

Wates’ initiative demonstrates the difference one day per year can make, if a company enables its workforce. Businesses need to provide the opportunity for staff to spend one day per year in a voluntary capacity. The benefits are not limited to the communities helped – employees feel positive about their involvement and that of their company’s too.

Arup’s good Cause

In 2006, engineering consultancy Arup created an initiative called the Arup Cause, to mark its 60th anniversary. Worldwide, its staff commit time, money and expertise to support those affected by extreme poverty or disasters. The focus is on water and sanitation issues. According to UNICEF, more than 2.6 billion people (forty per cent of the world’s population) lack basic sanitation facilities and over one billion people still use unsafe drinking water sources.

In October, Arup Cause supported a series of events across the business, participating in the United Nations’ global Stand Up Against Poverty event. The events were led by the business’s Poverty Action Network (PAN), a network of Arup staff interested in “poverty alleviation, international development and disaster relief work”.

This is support of an initiative on a global scale, which fits with Arup’s geographical spread and expertise.  It would be interesting to know what is achieved and how its staff get involved.

Does your company encourage volunteering? If so, how? Have you particpated? What did you achieve? Would you do it again?

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